Behind The Spine

This special episode draws on our conversation with Tom Chivers, author of ‘London Clay’, examining the role of places and locations in literature and how they should be treated as characters in their own right. Here we display the importance of writing for all of the senses, we explore the interconnectedness of the past and the present, and we explain how memories and emotions influence the way we experience a place. We end with a 60 second soundscape to showcase how visceral the experience of location can be. If you’d like to take part in the Behind The Spine writing competition, you can find all the details on our website.

Beneath London, within its walls, down its secret passageways and ancient riverbeds is a rich and complex history. The city’s past influences its present - even those parts which are long forgotten or out of sight. Our guest today is Tom Chivers, author of London Clay: Journeys in the Deep City. The book reads like a detective story, examining London through its geology, its hidden landscape and the ghosts of its past. In this episode we discuss the powerful role of senses in evoking your readers’ emotions, we explore how intimately connected places and events can be, and we learn how to better appreciate the world around us. Behind The Spine is the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon - you can sign up to the newsletter here.

Following each interview of this new series, we’ll be diving deeper into one aspect of that conversation. In this episode we’re reflecting on our conversation with Jules Williamson, looking more closely at a point she raised about the ways in which different cultures around the world view death and rebirth. Most religions believe death is not the end, that it’s simply a new chapter in another of life’s adventures, and yet we still fear it. Here we explore the powerful role of death in literature, we examine the weight of responsibility that comes with choosing which of your characters will live and die, and we find out what happens to those writers who go against the grain. To provide further inspiration, in each of these specials we end with a soundscape that captures the vastness of the topic in question...in a single minute. If you’d like to take part in the Behind The Spine writing competition, you can find all the details on our website.

What we see on screen or read in books affects our behaviour in the real world - literature and cinema have a real power to influence. So it’s no surprise to know that invisibility has an impact too. Not seeing ourselves, or people like us represented on screen can be damaging in unimaginable ways. That’s why Off the Rails, a film directed by today’s BAFTA nominated guest Jules Williamson, is such a breath of fresh air - tackling taboo topics through the lives of 3 women in their fifties, who’ve set off on an adventure around Europe with their friend’s 17 year old daughter. In this episode we learn how you, as a writer, can have a hand in improving representation and diversity in film, we discover the importance of allowing actors room for spontaneity, and we explore how the journey is more important than the destination. Behind The Spine is the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon - you can sign up to the newsletter here.

Following each interview of this new series, we’ll be diving deeper into one aspect of that conversation. In this episode we’re reflecting on our conversation with Felix Marquardt, homing in on the topic of addiction. Addiction is a trait shared by many of society's best-loved characters, from James Bond to Sherlock Holmes. We explore why we find ourselves drawn to these types of characters, we examine the prevalence and many faces of addiction in our modern world, and offer advice on how to portray addiction in your writing. To provide further inspiration, in each of these specials we end with a soundscape that captures the vastness of the topic in question...in a single minute. If you’d like to take part in the Behind The Spine writing competition, you can find all the details on our website.

The history of the world is a history of travel and of cultures connecting, and yet far too many of us still view ‘migration’ as a dirty word - made all too clear by the global reaction to the current crisis in Afghanistan. But Felix Marquardt, author of ‘The New Nomads’, is flipping that perspective, taking control of the narrative, and teaching us that travel is beautiful. Felix also explains how he views life through the lens of his own struggles with addiction, and how he sees addiction everywhere, particularly in our global obsession with infinite growth. In this episode learn the value of exploring and enjoying different countries and cultures, find out why you always need to challenge the narrative you’re presented with, and learn to let a world of diverse perspectives flow through your writing. Behind The Spine is the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon - you can sign up to the newsletter here.

Series 3 has arrived! The show has a fresh new look, combining the usual mix of fascinating guests with deeper dives into certain narrative forms. Mark shares a taste of what’s to come.

In the past self-publishing wasn’t synonymous with quality, but that’s changing at an exciting pace. Access to an online world of professionals is sweeping away the stigma, as self-published authors are now competing at the highest level. Ricardo Fayet is co-founder of self-publishing marketplace Reedsy, and author of ‘How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market’. In this episode he shares invaluable and actionable insights for aspiring authors. Find out how to focus your mind on the business of writing, learn the value of research, and discover the facts and myths of a successful marketing campaign. If you want to take the plunge and make your work sell, this is not to be missed. Behind The Spine is the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon - you can sign up to the newsletter here.

Jazz is a quintessential part of American history, a genre that transcends music alone. It’s humble beginnings are kept alive by aficionados, who not only celebrate its history, but champion its future too. Brian Newman is one such man, a musician, singer, trumpet player and pioneer, who regularly performs with Lady Gaga no less! Delving into the past, Brian tells us how he started out, and the journey that led to his illustrious career playing in venues like the Nomad in Las Vegas, and the Rose Bar in New York. In this episode learn the value of surrounding yourself with people more experienced than you, discover the importance of authenticity and find out why it sometimes pays to break the rules.

Writers are becoming increasingly aware that in order to create a true reflection of society in their work, diversity and representation need to be placed firmly at the top of the agenda. For a long time the voice of the minority has been silenced, and though the landscape is improving, plenty more work still needs to be done. Colin Grant is director of the Writers Mosaic, a new initiative funded by the Royal Literary Fund, which is giving a platform to underrepresented voices across the UK. In this episode Colin explains how the Writers Mosaic is here to stay, a long term project mandated to tear down the many barriers facing writers of colour. Find out why we must remember our history when writing stories of modern day adversity, learn how everyone in society benefits from improved diversity, and discover the importance of reading stories from authors of all backgrounds.